About a month ago a new restaurant opened here in Birmingham.
Yes, Texans. I just heard you squeal.
And listen. We couldn’t wait to try the Chuy’s. I feel like I’ve heard people talking about the Chuy-liciousness (GET IT?) for a sweet forever, and I originally had every intention of being there opening weekend and knocking on the door until they let me in and agreed to pour cheese dip into a glass so that I could drink it through a straw.
But things have been a little cuckoo around here with our various and sundry end-of-summer funtime activities, and our inaugural trip to Chuy’s kept getting pushed farther down the list. But this past Friday night we agreed that Chuy’s was a must-do for Saturday lunch, and then we held a solemn candlelight ceremony so that we could affirm our love for homemade tortillas and really good pico de gallo.
Or maybe we just fell asleep watching TV. Regardless, it was a terribly exciting evening.
So Saturday morning we pulled into a parking spot at Chuy’s at 10:55 IN THE A.M. because we wanted to beat the crowd. And it’s a good thing that we did, because I’ll have you know that by 11:20 that place was packed.
I’ll also have you know that by 11:20, we were in the midst of a serious Tex-Mex blessing.
Because oh my goodness. The salsa. And the jalapeno ranch. And the deluxe tomatillo sauce. And the everything. It was just. divine. And the little man was so fascinated by the tortilla-making that was going on next to our table that the sweet ladies behind the counter gave him his own little piece of tortilla dough.
Sorry for the glare. But I wanted to capture the fact that the tortilla dough seemed to make him thoughtful. Analytical. Consumed by tortilla-related possibilities.
We had a great lunch, and I’m sure we’ll go back an embarrassing number of times. Because in addition to the food being great, there are two other decided benefits to Chuy’s: 1) it’s next door to Charming Charlie, and 2) OH MY WORD THE VIEW.
I’m actually considering moving to Chuy’s patio this fall. Just so I can sit there all day long and look at the pretty leaves.
Welcome to Birmingham, Chuy’s.
We’re mighty glad you’re here.
Yes! I knew you’d love it. Chuy’s people, please please save us displaced Texans in Atlanta next!
From Deep in the Heart of Texas I must tell you there is nothing like Chuy’s for TexMex. And the Jalapeno Ranch? My favorite.
Oooh, I LOVE the creamy jalapeno. Don’t worry about the embarrassing number of times you’ll go- we’ve had it 3 times in one week before. You’re among sistas here! Try the beef fajitas- they are the BEST!
We got a chuys here in Franklin Tn awhile back…..like you said, always packed. My friend and I finally said on Fri., let’s just go and wait…..we didn’t wait! We went right as the lunch crowd was clearing out,so we were starving and cleaned our plates. Our mom’s would be proud!Yummy!!!!!Enjoy checking in on your life every day!
Tried to go with friends for my birthday last Saturday night / make that late afternoon; but the wait was an hour and a half! Will try again on a weeknight…
First time commented here, but I just had to emerge from lurkdom for this post. My parents and entire extended family are from AL/GA so, although I am a born and raised Texan, (my parents intended to move back after dad finished seminary, but it didn’t happen), I consider myself a bit of a southern belle by blood.
I was just teasing my mom the other day because although she’s lived in TX for 36 years now, she still betrays her roots by calling queso “cheese dip”. I’m glad to see you are enjoying your Chuy’s and all the “cheese dip” you can handle. And I’m glad to hear there will be some real TexMex available to me next time we visit Grandmama in B’ham. Yay!
You know, this Texan has never eaten at Chuy’s. Somehow it was not on my list of things to do in the last 6 months and now we are back in the land of no mexican food. Boo.
So jealous…we have one okay Mexican restaurant in our area…actually it is a whole 8 country miles from our house. My hubs and I say we feel like we’re in Epcot when we eat there. It has a similar vibe to the ‘Mexico’ venue in Disney World.
Oh how we miss Chuy’s now that we live in SC. Thank goodness a friend gave me the recipe for their creamy cilantro-jalapeno dip!
ok, sadly i do not know of the gloriousness of chuy’s.
BUT, i DO know charming charlie. i want to live there!
Ooooo… a great place to try the next time we when we visit family in AL.
Hail Dear Ole State!! Counting days still football goodness!
Donna
OOOOH well it is time for me to head back to the ‘ham b/c all our Texas friends talk about Chuys all the time and it gets me all kinds of jealous!
I can not wait to check this place out!
Thanks for the heads up :)
My husband and I had Chuy’s in Houston several years ago… and FELL IN LOVE with it! We went to B’ham not long ago for a wedding, but didn’t have time to eat there (b/c of the wait times – it had just opened). I am definitely penciling in a Chuy’s date next time we visit the ‘Ham!
I did scream. Because I’m a displaced Texan and it’s on my list of “must-visit” places when I’m back in The Homeland.
Wonder how far B’ham is from Raleigh?
Many problems can be solved with queso and chips. In fact, I think at the mid east peace talks they need to cater in some Chuy’s.
Chuy’s defined my 1980’s college experience in Austin, TX…along with Longhorn football and fraternity parties. I am so happy for you, I’m tearing up just a wee bit. The Chuy’s Special is my go-to entree: Stacked blue corn tortillas, chicken, tomatillo sauce and sour cream.
From the land where Chuy’s originated, I send gustatory greetings. Be sure to try the flautas and one of their daily specials: taquitos. And my husband LOVES their green chile stew, especially right now when they use Hatch NM chiles!
Coming out of lurkdom…really enjoy your blog..grew up in B’ham so will have to check out Chuy’s next time I’m at Mom and Dad’s,LOVE Charming Charlies!! Kind of embarrasing to admit but I thought you lived in Mississippi…guess I wasn’t paying attention…
I am looking forward to trying it as well, I am ALWAYS up for yummy mexican food. I live in Tuscaloosa but it sounds worth the quick trip. I have been meaning to ask you your opinion of the new SEC rule for MSU re: the cowbell? How are you taking it?
Oh how I miss being in Birmingham during the fall! We don’t have all that pretty fall foliage here in Jackson, MS.
Is Chuy’s in the Summit?
Unbelievably jealous!!! I miss Chuy’s, and all other good Mexican food for that matter. After living in Dallas for 5 years, we moved to Kansas City, MO, where there are in fact zero good mexican food places. It was the saddest day. Especially since I have literally been pregnant for almost the entire time we have lived in this Mexican-food-forsaken place. *Sigh*
We recently got one in Nashville (well, Cool Springs) this year. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and my heavens… perfection. It reminds me of Rosie’s in Huntsville even better.
The next time you are in there…tell the sweet bartender (trainer) Lauren, her friend Dawn from Houston says hello. I am the MOST GIGANTIC CHUY’s FAN EVER!!!
Been going to chuy’s for 22 + years in H-town…so glad they are sharing the wealth and letting you Alabama folks have some of what we already know is just the best place ever!
and I’m telling the management folks here what i great job you are doing of spreading the word. xoxo
Dawn
Ahh… Chuy’s :) My husband and I have been known to eat at ours in Houston for lunch and dinner on the same day.
I am a new reader to your blog, but after reading over some of your posts I gathered that you are a fan of cheese, as am I.
Next time you HAVE to try the Boom Boom Sauce (it comes on the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom enchiladas). In essence they have taken all of there sauces and combined them into some divine queso goodness.
And if you are anything like us, anytime you have Mexican food that is not Chuy’s you will make a trip within days of consuming the “not Chuy’s” food, just so your soul is satisfied with the Best Tex-Mex possible.
Loving your blog :) Heather
Ok, I understand free enterprise, gross margins, ROI, sales per square foot and all that … BUT I think you should have to come to Texas for this experience. Because I also understand brand dilution.
My humble abode rests less than 15 minutes from both a Chuy’s and the Lone Star Bakery, home of the world famous Round Rock Donut. I attribute at least 8% of my property taxes to this proximity.
I just realized that I made a spelling mistake in my comment — and being OCD that I am, it must be corrected. I intended to say that “their” sauces.
I blame the spelling error on the little sleep I’ve been getting as a new mommy.
Our Chuy’s just opened up last year and I’m not sure if there was ever a time within the first 9 months that you could get a table in under 2 hours. People must have spent the night in the parking lot. The wait is totally worth it, though! I’m so grateful for the expanse of the franchise!
We love Chuy’s, and try to make sure every visit to Texas includes at least one meal from Chuy’s! Paul and I always share the Elvis memorial combo, which is plenty of food for two. And all my girls love it, too!
Yup, the tomatillo and jalapeno ranch are so yummy. We haven’t been for months b/c we live in the land of very good TexMex on every corner. Hate me, I know. However, it’s currently 110 degrees in the shade!
Oh how I miss Chuy’s!! We lived in Austin for five years and were spoiled with great Tex-mex. I like their food, but I could seriously just eat creamy jalapeno dip and their fresh salsas and be happy. Hubby always got Chuychangas and added something I think called boom boom sauce?
Now my mouth is officially watering :). Too bad we have zero good Mexican food in our rural New York town. I’ll just enjoy it through you!!
I promise this is my last posting about Chuys…but NEVER EVER have the toll house chocolate chip pie…it’s just sin and i mean BAD, REALLY BAD sin. Sometimes when I take all five of my children to chuys, we just order dessert first, and get the chips and queso to go :)
When I saw your tweet, I thought you were visiting Houston or San Antonio. I had no idea that AL had been blessed with the graces of Chuy’s!! That really does have me squealing for joy for you! Don’t let that be an excuse to not visit us more often though now that you have some good Mexican food!
Long time lurker….first time poster. Well, you got me going on this one! I live in Austin and have been a huge Chuy’s fan for a long time! The creamy jalapeno is fantastic! My youngest son left for his senior year in college yesterday and his “last meal” request was (of course) Chuy’s. The deluxe chicken enchiladas and the shrimp tacos are the best! Yum! Enjoy!
Oh, forgot to say that I had Deluxe Chicken Enchiladas last night … and again for lunch!
Oh Boo Mama! Chuy’s is our favorite place! We began with the original Chuy’s in Austin, Texas and ate there probably twice a week. My favorites are: Creamy Jalapeno-you called in Jalapeno Ranch, but us Texans call it Creamy Jalapeno. I usually order the appetizer plate or the Chicken Chuychanga with deluxe Tom. sauce. Double rice, no beans. We have eaten at Chuy’s all over Texas now and I have begged them to come to Abilene, but we are not on the Chuy’s map for the near future. So I will have to live thru your Chuy’s eating adventures. Keep us posted!
I don’t see Jackson getting a chuy’s any time soon and I’m devastated bc I have yet to eat at one! I’m coming to the Ham for some fun for some chuy and some platt ;)
Here in Fort Worth/Dallas (and it IS Fort Worth first!), we just got a Chuy’s smack dab in the middle — you know, that little town that Jerry built himself a new house to bring a game to in January? Well, when you can get in, sisters, let me just say, it is worth coming all the way from Timbuktu. Anything on that menu is fabulous. Especially anything with Hatch peppers. I went with some friends who have young kids earlier in the summer and watched completely amazed as their 2-1/2 year old practically drank the salsa. He may be the only Vietnamese baby I’ll ever see do that. It was the cutest thing ever. Go — get thee to a Chuy’s. Quickly.
Yup! We’ve been twice. Loved it! I hope to go back this week sometime. I want to try that giant steak burrito that the people next to us had. haha
I almost started crying when I read your post. We moved AWAY from Chuy’s (and Austin) 10 months ago and I’m still grieving over my loss of the creamy jalapeno dressing. I have attempted to recreate it (and it’s a pretty close attempt) but I will always mourn the loss of Chuy’s and it’s cheesy decor. :)
When we lived in Austin, Chuy’s was our “date night” place. Loved it. The atmosphere is so fun, we would go and pretend we were younger and cooler than we really were. And oh, the salsa. I’ve been all over the great state of Texas and have yet to find a worthy comparison.
UT Alum here, and I LOVE Chuy’s. We have it here in Houston, but the Austin original is still the best. The jalapeno ranch! The Classic Tex Mex Enchiladas! The Big As Yo’ Face Burritos (ok, I’ve never actually had that, but I love that they have it on the menu). The Strawberry Margaritas! I’m so happy that you finally get to experience the awesomeness that is Chuy’s! And boy, does your Chuy’s have a great view, or what?! Happy Tex-Mex’ing!
Oh the deliciousness that is Chuy’s!!! We go every Thursday night here in Dallas. We hit it up early to make it for happy hour. Any by happy hour, I mean free queso!
THE JALAPENO RANCH!!! so good.
Do you not love, love, LOVE it when great restaurants open in your city! It makes going out to eat An Event! Mmmm….mmmm… We don’t have Chuy’s here in OKC, but hopefully soon after your glowing foodie recommendation!
I cannot wait to try it!
There is nothing like the Jalepeno ranch at Chuy’s! LOVE it! and to be next door to a charming charlie’s, surely that is heaven!
I have never been & now I am quite ashamed. :( There’s a Chuy’s 15 min from me .. I had NO idea. Amazing what you can learn from someone who lives 10 hrs. away. :)
We’ll be all over it this weekend. THANK YOU
Mmmm, that sounds good. Much better than Grandpa Chuy’s Mexican-American-Italian restaurant we have in our town. Which is right across the street from Jose Paizano’s Mexican-American-Italian restaurant. They apparently love variety around these parts!
My son lives in Houston and we’ve eaten at Chuy’s, SO good and the creamy jalapeno is excellent! Looks like the Birmingham one is at The Summit? Loved shopping there last fall when I was in town!
Nothing beats Chuy’s. NOTHING. But, that’s just the opinion of a Texan. LOL
Be sure to try the rellenos an the chicka chicka boom boom… two of their signature dishes for a good reason. And, anytime they offer a special dish with pork as the meat: do it!
Next time you go, get a burrito and ask for the boom-boom sauce. AWESOME!
Xandra
I found this yesterday and thought you might like ;)
http://plainchicken.blogspot.com/2010/09/chuys-jalapeno-dip.html